Eyelet

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns an eyelet (O) of the type constituted by two half-shells ( 100  and  200 ) assembled by clipsage used as border and/or reinforcement of perforations in curtains, textiles or similar materials, the two half-shells ( 100  and  200 ) coming mutually into grasp by clipsage, one of the two half-shells ( 100  and  200 ) having a plurality of fins ( 120 ) projecting from its face turned towards the interior of the other half-shell ( 200 ) and the points ( 121 ) of which are introduced into the circular annular groove ( 220 ) laid out for this purpose in the interior surface of the other half-shell ( 200 ). This eyelet is notably characterized in that the aforementioned fins ( 120 ) have a body adopting a polygonal cross-section.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of eyelets capable of servingas borders and/or reinforcements for perforations made in any material(curtains, textiles or similar materials, etc. . . . ) and notably tothe adaptations enabling optimization of their mounting, theirmanufacture and their functions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

There exists in the prior art eyelets formed from two half-shellsassembled by clipsage to serve notably as border at holes made intextiles or similar materials such as for example at the curtain topend.

The two half-shells enter into mutual engagement by clipsage.

Furthermore, one of the two half-shells includes protruding fins, thepoints of which enter into a groove or annular circular channel of theother half-shell.

Furthermore, there exists eyelets where the two half-shells include inthe area of their small diameter a preformed cylindrical projection forcooperating in a manner to enable the clipsage.

The applicant noticed that this type of eyelet was not being adapted tothe different thicknesses of the fabrics or similar existing materials.In fact, once clipped on each other, the two half-shells have, at thearea of their annular part, a fixed separation defining the thickness onwhich the eyelet can be installed.

The applicant furthermore noticed that the behavior of the fabric in thearea of the fins, their penetration and their passage through theaforementioned material were presenting disadvantages.

Furthermore, the exterior appearance of the eyelets made of plasticmaterial appears exclusively defined by the injection constraints, whichreduces the possibilities of change of its shape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Given this situation, the applicant conducted research studies tooptimize the eyelets known from the prior art with regards to theiradaptability to several thicknesses, the behavior of the curtain, fabricor of the material on which they come to be installed, and theiraesthetic.

These research studies led to the conception of an eyelet offeringimprovements obviating the disadvantages of the prior art.

The eyelet of the invention is of the type constituted by twohalf-shells assembled by clipsage used as border and/or reinforcement ofa perforation in curtains, textiles or similar materials, the twohalf-shells coming mutually into grasp by clipsage of the two sides, oneof the two half-shells having a plurality of fins projecting from itsinterior face turned towards the interior of the other half-shell andthe points of which are introduced into the circular annular groove laidout for this purpose in the interior surface of the other half-shell.

In accordance with the invention, this eyelet is characterized in thatthe aforementioned fins have a body having a continuous polygonalcross-section terminated by a point and that a part of the body havingcontinuous cross-section is introduced into the annular groove when thetwo half shells are in the assembled state.

This cross-section contributes to a better penetration of the body ofthe fins through the textile or through the material on which the eyeletis installed. While the fins of the prior art were making do with aconical body and thus making the hold of the eyelet dependent on thelength of the fin traversing the textile, a continuous polygonalcross-section guarantees the same hold. This new cross-section thusresolves one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

In order to facilitate the first penetration of the point of the fin,the aforementioned fins have a first end coupled to the interior surfaceof a half-shell and another end that is terminated by a point having theshape of a pyramid. The fins thus have two parts, a part havingcontinuous polygonal cross-section and a pointed part.

Still, to respond to the ongoing concern of the applicant about a goodhold of the eyelet on the textile or material on which it forms theborder around a hole, a part of the polygonal body of the aforementionedfins is introduced into the aforementioned groove or annular channel.Thus, contrary to what the prior art offers, it is not only the pointthat comes to be introduced into the annular groove but a part of thebody supporting the point, which reinforces the attachment offered bythe fins.

According to a technical choice, the cross-section of the fins isquadrangular and the aforementioned fins are oriented such that the flatsurfaces of the fins are in contact with the cylindrical surfaces of theannular groove of the other half-shell.

In order to better take into account the variations in thickness of thesupports on which they are installed, the applicant conceived that atleast one of the two half-shells has at its outer rim, that is on thepart the most distant from the center of the attachment, a plurality ofteeth projecting from its interior face towards the interior face of theother half-shell in the space defined between the two half-shells inorder to maintain the eyelet in position, up to its outer rim. Thesesupplemental teeth furthermore allow the border of the eyelet to comeinto contact with the textile even if the latter is of a thickness lessthan the distance separating the two assembled half-shells. According toa technical choice the interior faces of the two half-shells areequipped with the aforementioned teeth.

An object of the invention is constituted by an eyelet combining severalof the features cited above, this combination guaranteeing good holdingof the two half shells between themselves and of the eyelet on thetextile. Thus, according to the invention, this eyelet is characterizedin that the aforementioned fins include a body having continuouspolygonal cross-section terminated by a point and that a part of thebody having continuous cross-section is introduced into the annulargroove when the two half shells are in the assembled state,

that at least one of the two half-shells has at its outer rim aplurality of teeth projecting from its interior face and

that each half-shell includes a cylindrical projection around the holeof which they secure the border, the cylindrical projections beingpreformed from complementary shapes for clipping into each other, ahalf-shell being preformed from projecting stops (160) guiding the endof the clipsage movement.

According to another particularly advantageous feature, the eyelet isfabricated in ABS, that is in plastic material based onacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. This material offers the mechanicalfeatures necessary to assure the function of the eyelet and offers thecharacteristic of enabling its mixture with the flakes capable ofbringing a metallized aesthetic to the eyelet.

The fundamental concepts of the invention have just been explained abovein their most elementary form. Other details and features will reemergemore clearly at the reading of the description that follows and withregards to the annexed drawings giving, by way of non-limiting example,an implementation mode of an eyelet in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a side, cross-section view of animplementation mode of an eyelet in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 a is a schematic drawing of an exterior side view of a firsthalf-shell forming the eyelet of FIG. 1,

FIG. 2 b is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective view of theinterior surface of the half-shell of FIG. 2 a,

FIG. 2 c is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective view of theexterior surface of the half-shell of FIG. 2 a,

FIG. 3 a is a schematic drawing of an exterior side view of the secondhalf-shell forming the eyelet of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 b is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective view of theinterior surface of the half-shell of FIG. 3 a,

FIG. 3 c is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective view of theexterior surface of the half-shell of FIG. 3 a,

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of a detailed side view of the assembly ofthe two half-shells of the eyelet illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED IMPLEMENTATION MODES

As illustrated on the drawing of FIG. 1, the eyelet of the inventionreferenced O in its entirety is used as border of a hole made intextiles or similar materials not illustrated and is constituted by twohalf-shells or half-molds 100 and 200 that are assembled by clipsage.The two half-shells 100 and 200 come mutually into grasp, once madecoaxial by clipsage of their respective interior faces 110 and 210preformed for this purpose each having a cylindrical projection theshapes of which complement each other. Furthermore, in order to maintainthe eyelet in position in the hole of which it forms the border and inorder notably to avoid its rotation, one of the two half-shells, namelythe half-shell 100, includes a plurality of fins 120 projecting from itsinterior face 110 turned towards the interior face 210 of the otherhalf-shell 200.

As illustrated in more detail on the drawing of FIG. 4, the points 121and a part of the body of the fins 120 are introduced into the circularannular groove 220 laid out for this purpose in the interior surface 210of the other half-shell 200. In accordance with the geometry of theeyelets of the invention, the fins 120 and the annular groove 220 arearranged according to a common diameter in order that, once thehalf-shells 100 and 200 are placed opposing each other and made coaxial,the aforementioned fins 120 can penetrate into the aforementionedannular groove 220.

According to another feature of the invention, the aforementioned fins120 have a body adopting a polygonal cross-section. According to theadopted technical choice appearing on FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c, the fins120 have a square profile. Thus, in accordance with the invention, thecross-section of the fins is rectangular and the aforementioned fins areoriented so that the flat faces of fins are in contact with thecylindrical surfaces of the annular groove 220 of the other half shell200.

As illustrated in the drawings of FIGS. 1 and 4, two flat faces 122 and123 of the body of the fin 120 penetrate the annular groove 220 and comeinto contact with the cylindrical surfaces that constitute the bodyrespectively 221 and 222, which optimizes the coupling between the fins120 and the annular groove 220 relative to a circular profile.

As illustrated on the drawing of FIG. 4, the aforementioned fins 120have a first end coupled to the interior surface of a half-shell and theother end of which is terminated by a point 121 adopting the shape of apyramid. According to the illustrated implementation mode, the pyramidhas four faces.

In order to optimize the hold of the rim of the eyelet with respect tothe fabric, at least one of the two half-shells has at its outer rim aplurality of teeth projecting from its interior face. According to theillustrated implementation mode, the two half-shells 100 and 200 have,on their interior surface, teeth 130 and 230 projecting towards theinterior surface of the other half-shell. As illustrated, theaforementioned teeth 130 and 230 have a height less than half of thedistance separating the peripheral parts of the half-shells supportingthem. These peripheral parts are flat parts situated on the largestdiameter of the eyelet O and serve as an edge for it. The presence ofthese teeth avoids sliding of the fabric and allows adjustment for thelarger separation of the two half-shells in case of thinner fabric.Thus, in comparison with the eyelets composed of two half-shells of theprior art, the eyelet of the invention offers greater possibilities byoffering a larger separation of the two half-shells to allow theinstallation in optimum conditions of the eyelets on thick fabrics.

Another disadvantage resolved by the eyelet O of the invention residesin the lack of rigidity of the eyelets made of plastic of the prior art.According to the invention, at least a half-shell is preformed to havean annular groove 140 and 240 on their exterior surface. As illustrated,the two half-shells are preformed to have an annular groove 140 and 240on their exterior surface that creates a fold in the thickness of thehalf-shell 100 and 200. Thus, this groove is not realized by removal ofmaterial, which contributes to a better rigidity of the entirety of theeyelet O. According to the illustrated implementation mode, eachhalf-shell 100 and 200 thus shows externally, starting from its center:

-   -   an approximately vertical surface ensuring the cylindrical        border of the hole,    -   a first padding or bulge,    -   a second padding or bulge having larger dimension and coupled to        the first by the aforementioned fold,    -   an approximately flat annular surface.

This exterior form adopted then by the eyelet of the invention is knownonly from metallic eyelets while the intended non-limitingimplementation mode is defined in plastic.

The principal central attachment of the two half-shells was also theobject of a study by the applicant. These studies dealt with the fatigueof this attachment due notably to the operations of the successivemounting/dismounting of the two half-shells as well as a possible missmounting. As known in the prior art, the principal attachment of the twohalf-shells between themselves is, as illustrated, constituted by acylindrical clipsage. To do this, the two half-shells 100 and 200 arepreformed, in the area of their smallest diameter, having projections,the shapes of which complement each other, once placed in position, toform an edgeless inner cylinder to border the hole made in the fabric orsimilar material.

Thus, each half-shell 100 and 200 includes a cylindrical projection 150and 250 around the hole of which they secure the edge, the cylindricalprojections being preformed of complementary shapes 151 and 251 forclipping into each other.

In order to guide the clipsage movement and to maintain the coupling inposition, one of the half-shells is preformed having projecting stops160 that, distributed angularly around the center of the half-shell 100,guide the end of the clipsage movement and maintain the aforementionedprojections 150 and 250 in position between themselves.

To do this, the non-coupled end of the half-shell 100 having theaforementioned stops 160 is preformed having an inclined plane 161oriented so that, during the movement in translation of the clipsageoperation, the deformation of the complementary part 251 of thehalf-shell 200, tending to separate it from the center, is guided toreturn the aforementioned complementary shape towards the center.

The eyelet of the present invention has a symmetric structure, the planeof which separates the two half-shells perpendicularly at the axis ofthe cylindrical edge that they form. According to the illustratedtechnical choice, the two half-shells differ in the area of theirinternal part as a result of the presence of projecting stops 160 and offins 120 for the first half-shell 100 and by the presence of an annulargroove 120 for the second half-shell, the two projections 150 and 250coming to complete themselves.

According to a preferred implementation mode, the half-shells of theinvention are realized by a plastic injection process. Furthermore, theexterior surface can be subjected to a metallization, when it is notrealized in the body, according to another preferred implementation modeof the invention.

One understands that the eyelet, that has just been described andrepresented above, was in view of a disclosure rather then a limitation.Of course, various arrangements, modifications and improvements can beapplied to the example above, without departing from the framework ofthe invention.

1. An eyelet of the type constituted by two half-shells assembled byclipsage used as border and/or reinforcement of perforations incurtains, textiles or similar materials, the two half-shells comingmutually into grasp by clipsage, one of the two half-shells having aplurality of fins projecting from its face turned towards the interiorof the other half-shell and the points of which are introduced into acircular annular groove laid out for this purpose in the interiorsurface of the other half-shell, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT theaforementioned fins have a body with continuous polygonal cross-sectionterminated by a point and that a part of the body of the continuouscross-section is introduced into the annular groove when the two halfshells are in the assembled state.
 2. The eyelet according to claim 1,CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforementioned fins have a first endcoupled to the interior surface of a half-shell and a second end that isterminated by a point adopting the shape of a pyramid.
 3. The eyeletaccording to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT a part of thepolygonal body of the aforementioned fins is introduced into theaforementioned annular groove.
 4. The eyelet according to claim 3,CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the cross-section of the fins isquadrangular and that the aforementioned fins are oriented in a mannersuch that the flat surfaces of the fins are in contact with thecylindrical surfaces of the annular groove and the other half-shell. 5.The eyelet according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT one ofthe two half-shells has at its outer rim a plurality of teeth projectingfrom its interior face.
 6. The eyelet according to claim 1,CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT each half-shell includes a cylindricalprojection around the hole, the border of which they secure, thecylindrical projections being preformed having complementary shapes toclip into each other, a half-shell being preformed having projectingstops guiding the end of the clipsage movement.
 7. The eyelet accordingto claim 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the end not coupled to thehalf-shell having the aforementioned stops is preformed having aninclined plane oriented such that, during the movement in translation ofthe clipsage operation, the deformation of the complementary part of thehalf-shell tending to separate it from the center is guided to returnthe aforementioned complementary shape towards the center.
 8. The eyeletaccording to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT at least ahalf-shell is preformed to have an annular groove on its exteriorsurface.
 9. The eyelet according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACTTHAT it is fabricated in ABS.
 10. The eyelet according to claim 1,CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it is characterized in that theaforementioned fins have a continuous polygonal cross-section terminatedby a point and that a part of the body having continuous cross-sectionis introduced into the annular groove when the half shells are in theassembled state that one of the two half-shells has at its outer rim aplurality of teeth projecting from its interior face, and that eachhalf-shell includes a cylindrical projection around the hole of whichthey secure the border, the cylindrical projections being preformedhaving complementary shapes to clip into each other, a half-shell beingpreformed having projecting stops guiding the end of the clipsagemovement.